Recovery of the skin grafting area

Skin grafting surgery is suitable for patients with scars caused by burns, scalds or other reasons. Skin grafting surgery requires taking some good skin to cover the scarred area. Generally, if the skin grafting area is relatively shallow, it can be recovered in about ten days. If it is deeper and the area is larger, it will take longer. The dressing of the skin grafting area must be allowed to fall off by itself and do not remove it with your hands.

Precautions

What should I pay attention to during skin grafting surgery?

The grafted limb should be immobilized to prevent the skin graft from moving and affecting its survival, and the affected limb should be elevated. Keep the dressing clean and dry. Instruct patients not to scratch or touch the wound, and children's hands should be restrained. Always observe the survival of the wound. If there is pus and blood under the skin, a small incision should be made to drain it and avoid squeezing. If the skin graft has necrosis, it should be removed in time.

When your skin is defective and the wound cannot heal on its own, and the doctor determines that skin grafting is necessary, please cooperate with the following matters:

1. One day before skin grafting surgery:

1. Please fill in the consent form for surgery.

2. Wash your whole body and clean the area where the skin is to be removed with soap or disinfectant. If necessary, shave the hair in the area where the skin is to be removed.

3. If the surgery is performed under general or partial anesthesia, enema should be performed at 9 pm.

4. Do not eat or drink after 12:00 at night [patients undergoing local anesthesia may eat as directed by the doctor].

5. Practice the deep breathing and coughing methods taught by the nursing staff to prevent postoperative lung complications.

2. On the day of skin grafting surgery:

1. Continue to fast and drink no water (except for those undergoing local anesthesia as directed by the doctor).

2. Remove body jewelry, removable dentures, artificial eyes, nail polish, etc.

3. Take off your underwear, put on surgical clothes, and wait for notification from the operating room.

4. If necessary, an IV drip will be given first.

5. When the operating room staff comes to pick you up, please empty your bladder first.

3. Post-surgery care for skin grafting:

1. After the operation, there may be intravenous catheters [drip], urinary catheters, wound drainage tubes, etc. left in place. Please pay attention to maintaining good fixation and patency of the tubes.

2. If you feel any pain or discomfort in the wound, please inform the medical staff at any time.

3. The affected limb can be raised with a pillow to avoid pressure on the skin grafted area and maintain proper fixation and support position.

4. There may be plaster fixation on the skin grafting area. Please do not remove it at will and restrict activities.

5. If the skin grafting area is on the lower limbs, the patient must rest in bed and cannot get out of bed to move around at will. Only with the doctor's permission can he or she take gradual steps to get out of bed and move around.

6. If the skin grafting area is on the buttocks, you can lie prone and be careful when turning over.

7. Practice the deep breathing and coughing method as taught. If necessary, use steam inhalation to help expel phlegm.

8. Nutritional supplement: Eat more high-calorie, high-protein foods, such as fish, meat, and eggs.

9. Smoking and drinking [including second-hand smoke] are strictly prohibited.

10. Generally, the skin grafted onto a normal wound will survive after one week, but it still needs to be fixed with elastic gauze or plaster and activity must be restricted for two to three weeks to ensure the healing of the graft.

11. For patients with chronic diseases or the elderly, wounds heal more slowly and require longer fixation periods.

12. After the skin graft wound heals, if the skin is dry, you can apply moisturizing oil.

13. The skin substitute dressing covering the skin area will slowly fall off after drying. Do not tear it off by force to avoid causing skin damage.

14. If you find any abnormal swelling, pain, or bleeding in the skin transplant area, please inform the medical staff immediately.